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Oct
2
2012

John William Pope Foundation Launches New Website

The John William Pope Foundation, one of the top-giving philanthropies in North Carolina, has launched a redesigned websiteto more effectively communicate with fellow donors, the public, and the media. “Our expanded online presence serves as an important step in continuing my father’s legacy of generosity and goodwill,” said Art Pope, President and Chairman of the Pope Foundation. “Our goal is to underscore the vital work being done by our grantees.” The website describes the Pope Foundation’s four areas of philanthropic investment — public policy groups, educational institutions, humanitarian efforts, and the arts — that amounts to over $10 million in giving each year. It also tells John William Pope’s remarkable story — from his humble beginning working in his father’s five-and-dime store during the Great Depression to becoming head of a retail chain serving 300 communities across the southeast and employing thousands. Six grantees — including StepUp Ministry, Carolina Ballet, and the Boy Scouts of America — are highlighted on the new website, with more to follow in the coming weeks. The website also spotlights high-achieving individuals who have been assisted by Pope Foundation-supported grantees. “The generosity of the Pope family has benefited North Carolina and the entire nation for over 25 years,” said Dave Riggs, Vice President for Programs and Operations at the Pope Foundation. “Because of their kindness, thousands of lives have improved from over $100 million in giving. This website is another step in furthering that heritage.” For more information, interviews, or details on the application process, contact Dave Riggs or David Bass at 919-861-6449 or press@jwpf.org. ABOUT THE POPE FOUNDATION The John William Pope Foundation, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, works to improve the well-being of the citizens of North Carolina and the nation through the advancement of individual freedom and personal responsibility. From its first grant in 1986 to the present, the Foundation’s giving has totaled over $100 million, primarily to charities and organizations in North Carolina. The Foundation is a private family foundation supported by the late John William Pope Sr. and his wife, Joyce W. Pope, and their children: their late son, John William Pope Jr.; Amanda Pope; and Art Pope. The Pope Foundation receives additional support from the family’s business, Variety Wholesalers Inc., which owns and operates Roses, Maxway, Super 10, and other discount stores, and has its offices and distribution centers in Raleigh and Henderson, North Carolina.
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Oct
1
2012

Pope Foundation’s 25th Anniversary

The John William Pope Foundation marked its 25th anniversary in December 2011. Even a quarter-century after the Foundation’s creation, the Pope family’s extraordinary generosity — nearly $100 million in philanthropic donations — is matched in significance only by the number of lives touched. John William Pope’s unusually quiet, unassuming philanthropy was designed to recognize and support whole people — helping to meet their physical needs, provide educational opportunities, enrich their creativity through the arts, and promote public policy that protects their ability to be free and prosperous in the future. In continuing the legacy of John William Pope, the Foundation’s 25th anniversary dinner was a fundraiser for StepUp Ministry, a nonprofit that empowers low-income individuals to break the poverty cycle. All proceeds from ticket sales for the dinner went to StepUp — nearly $300,000 total. John Stossel, a host and commentator on the Fox Business Network, keynoted the dinner. To learn more about the Pope Foundation, click here.
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